Vascular Surgeon
Boston, MA
Male - 33 Years Experience

DescriptionVascular surgeons focus on diseases of the vascular system (the body’s arteries and veins) and the lymphatic system (the pathways to the cells). They don’t, however, deal with the heart and brain – those are treated by cardiothoracic surgeons and neurosurgeons, respectively. Vascular surgeons may insert stents – tubes placed into coronary arteries then inflated to unclog blockages – or surgically repair other issues involving blood flow function. Other conditions could be pulmonary embolisms (blood clots lodged in the lungs), lymphedema (the buildup of lymphatic fluid in the extremities), deep-vein thrombosis or DVT (a blood clot in a deep vein), and varicose veins. Treatment can include surgery, minimally invasive techniques, medicine and exercise.

Dr. belkin was educated at the following institutions:

Medical School Attended:university of connecticut school of medicine

Year of Graduation:
1982

Dr. belkin received medical licensing as follows:

Medical License:
Recieved in 1987

State Medical License:
Issued in the state of Massachusetts

Dr. belkin accepts insurance from these companies:

aetna

united healthcare

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See what state and federal disciplinary actions (if any) have been reported against this doctor in the past five years.>

Disciplinary Actions: Not Available

Disciplinary actions are actions taken to punish or restrict physicians who have demonstrated professional misconduct. They are intended to correct the doctor's misconduct. Physicians with disciplinary actions may continue to practice, depending on the board's decision. Physicians who have had a disciplinary action in one state will often move to another state where he/she may have a clean record in that new state. Lifescript's Doctor Finder compiles disciplinary action information from all 50 states, you'll know if a physician has a disciplinary action in more than one state.

Vascular surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on diagnosis and management of vascular and lymphatic diseases (except for those of the arteries and veins in the heart and brain, which are managed by cardiothoracic surgeons and neurosurgeons).

Vascular surgeons prescribe medication, order diagnostic tests, and perform surgeries on the arteries and veins, from inserting catheters to surgical reconstruction. They frequently work with vascular and interventional radiologists, who perform procedures such as angioplasty, stenting and sclerotherapy, a procedure that treats spider and varicose veins.

Vascular surgery is important for stroke prevention and treatment; a vascular surgeon can remove blockage in the arteries of the neck or upper chest to help prevent stroke or remove a blockage in a vessel that is causing a stroke. A vascular surgeon is also trained to perform surgery on vascular trauma cases, and reroute blood vessels in patients with circulation problems caused by diabetes or peripheral vascular disease.

Vascular surgeons complete four years of medical school and a five-year general surgery residency, as well as 1-2 years in a vascular surgery fellowship. Some may choose to complete 5-6 years of vascular surgery residency.

Carotid artery stenosis– The narrowing of the carotid arteries, the main arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain. A major risk factor for stroke

Deep venous thrombosis – A blood clot in a vein deep in the body

Lymphedema – The retention of fluids that carry blood from the vessels to the cells in the lymphatic system

Peripheral vascular disease – The general term for atherosclerotic disease of blood vessels typically in the extremities

Stenosis – Abnormal narrowing of the blood vessels

Stroke – The interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. Sometimes referred to as a “brain attack.”

Thrombophlebitis – Inflammation of a blood vessel caused by a blood clot

Varicose veins– Enlarged and distended veins, which are most common on the legs and pelvic area

Venous reflux – Valves within veins that prevent back-flow of blood no longer function, causing blood to pool in the gravity dependent areas of the body, such as the legs, ultimately leading to swelling. Also known as venous insufficiency, this condition can lead to varicose veins.